Northern Thailand

The North region of Thailand has a more moderate climate and is a central point for artisans and the trade in their goods.  We are a short drive to the center of "Silk Country," even closer to other locales where we find handmade silver jewelry.  In the beginning, when I returned from Thailand to the US, I would bring silks, cottons and, always, a few choice pieces of handmade silver jewelry.  The demand for hill-tribe handmade silver jewelry rose to the point we decided to look into buying directly from the silver-smiths in the hills of the North.
 

Chiangmai Historical Highlights

For centuries Chiangmai and the area to the north, the "Golden Triangle," has been a crossroads for traders from all of Asia.  Chiangmai founded in the 13^th century as the capital and religious center of the Lanna (one million rice fields) kingdom, it has enjoyed a reputation as a center for artisans and craftsmen from the beginning.  It still is a mecca for Thai and foreign artists as well as a center for the northern people to trade their goods.
For the fist few centuries the land suffered the invasion and rule of Burmese, Khmer, Lao and several Thai kingdoms.  This "Rose of the North" has always been seen as a key trading and transportation hub.  It is once again being brought into that role by the current government.
The local people can trace their heritage back to mainly Chinese and Burmese roots.  You can see it in their faces.  For centuries the area has been, and still is, a destination for migrating "Hill-Tribes."
These tribes, with origins ranging from Tibet, south-west China, Laos and the mountains of Myanmar (Burma), brought with them a rich heritage of craft and agriculture.  Trading in opium, silver, textiles and carved goods in the past these unique folk have had assistance in marketing their indigenous crafts as a means of income to replace the all but eradicated cultivation of opium.
The area enjoys a wealth of finely crafted items.  Karien (commonly spelled Karen) tribes from Myanmar still are migrating from the mountains to the north and west, bringing with them a rich history of teak and jade carving and many villages have adopted silver jewelry making.  Hmong, Yao, Akkha, and Lisaw (commonly spelled Lisu) bring with them a history of work in silver jewelry.
From the beginning of the history of the area artisans have been needed to build the temples and palaces for the royalty and people of the north.  The art of fine stone and wood working, being passed down from father to son is still alive today and can be seen in the furniture and fine homes still being built.
Today the area is dotted with villages specializing in teak carving, the crafting of furniture and decorative items, ceramics, textiles and many different styles of silver jewelry.  Each village has it's own craft, it's own style.  Walking among these villages and sitting with the folk, I watch history unfold before my eyes.  Items made by their great-grandfather are being made today, by them.  Maybe in the same home workshop.